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BFD Expert Voices - Media Deals

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By both force and fortune, the FCC and FTC are set to be dramatically overhauled under President Trump in ways beyond recent precedent.

Why it matters: Antitrust enforcement on M&A could hinge more on partisan strategies than how any of these deals would harm consumers.

Driving the news: On Tuesday, Trump fired Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Slaughter, the two Democratic FTC commissioners. Both have said the moves are illegal and plan to fight them in court.

Their firings would leave just three Republicans on the five-person commission, including chair Andrew Ferguson.

At the FCC, Democrat commissioner Geoffrey Starks said he intends to step down this spring, which would leave Anna Gomez as the sole Democrat on the commission. The FCC is currently deadlocked at 2-2.

Trump nominated Olivia Trusty to fill the seat vacated by former chair Jessica Rosenworcel. Once she is confirmed and Starks departs, that will give the Republicans a 3-1 majority until Starks' seat is filled.

The big picture: Trump has attempted to exert more control over independent agencies — including the ability to fire Senate-confirmed commissioners — that he sees as standing in the way of his agenda.

FTC's Ferguson supported Trump's decision to fire the two commissioners, posting a statement on X saying he has "no doubts" about Trump's "constitutional authority to remove Commissioners."

Under new chairman Brendan Carr, the FCC has taken a much more heavy-handed approach toward broadcasters compared to his predecessors.

Actions include investigating CBS' handling of a "60 Minutes" interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris last year ; investigating Comcast over its DEI policies; and pressuring YouTube TV on why it doesn't carry a faith-based TV network.

Comcast and CBS' parent company Paramount have major deals that need regulatory approval.

What we're watching: Per FTC and FCC bylaws, no one party can have more than three commissioners on their respective five-person commissions.

That means Trump would have to nominate three Democrats — two for the FTC and one for the FCC.

The FCC and FTC's MAGA overhaul

President Trump is expanding GOP control over key antitrust regulators.

Illustrated collage of stacks of televisions, the White House, and a giant gavel, surrounded by abstract squares and static. 

By both force and fortune, the FCC and FTC are set to be dramatically overhauled under President Trump in ways beyond recent precedent.Why it matters: Antitrust enforcement on M&amp;A could hinge more on partisan strategies than how any of these deals would harm consumers.

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The FCC and FTC's MAGA overhaul

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